Ep 017: Knowing When to Lead & When to Leave - An interview with Brad Lomenick

Do you have a question for Pastor Josh about leadership or ministry? We’ll be featuring a special episode on the podcast in the next few weeks where Pastor Josh will be answering your questions! You can ask your question by calling or texting (646) 801-6033. Be sure to listen for this special Q&A episode where your question might be answered!

Today’s show guest is Brad Lomenick, who was one of our keynote speakers at Activate in September. Brad is a speaker and leadership consultant, as well as an author. He has written two books: The Catalyst Leader and H3 Leadership. His extensive experience in leading and equipping leaders vastly comes from 12 years he spent as the president of Catalyst, one of America’s largest movements of young Christian leaders. He has since moved into a strategic advisor role with Catalyst, along with several other organizations. Brad also keeps a blog where he writes about leadership, the next generation, creativity, teamwork, generational issues, and many more topics.

1. How do you know when you are ready to move on from your position of leadership? Brad shares his insight on what it was like to step down from his presidency of Catalyst. Wherever you find yourself, it’s part of your job to transition. Don’t get caught up into thinking that the longer you stay somewhere, the more effective you’ll be. Some questions you can ask yourself to know whether you are ready to move on in your role of leadership are: Does your leadership become stale? Are your accomplishments more important than your mission? Is your identity wrapped up in what you do?

2. Don’t expect to have it all together at 25. Brad shared that he often comes across young leaders who act like they know exactly what they are doing, but this becomes their downfall. Make sure you’re not trying to act like you have gotten to a level that you’re not even close yet. Be coachable and teachable. There is always more to learn, so don’t fall into the temptation of showing off how much you know or what you have accomplished.

3. When you’re building something of significance, you have to keep your inner life as the main focus. One of the most difficult parts of ministry is that your own personal spiritual life can fall by the wayside while you are building up others spiritually. This is a struggle for so many leaders, and Brad admitted that this was a struggle for him as well. The first step in refocusing on your own spiritual well-being is to become aware that this is a struggle. Second, Brad shares, you must also create systems that protect you from yourself. You will naturally kill yourself by pursuing this “Kingdom Goal” of trying to grow others while neglecting your own growth.

Quotes from this Episode:

“Succession and transition is one of the most important essentials for a leader at any level.” - Brad Lomenick

“Part of our responsibility as leaders is to pass on and move out of the way.” - Brad Lomenick

“When we’re in ministry, we start to find our identity in the work we’re doing rather than the work God’s doing in us.” - Josh Gagnon

“What you do is determined by who you are, but who you are is not determined by what you do.” - Brad Lomenick

“One of the great temptations of leadership is that significance is built on size.” - Brad Lomenick

“If you’re a young leader, the best way for you to get to the next level is be great at what you’re doing right now.” - Brad Lomenick